U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar over the weekend, despite having granted him a presidential pardon late last year that erased serious federal charges.
The remarks followed Cuellar’s recent announcement that he will seek re-election in 2026 as a Democrat. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express frustration over the decision, suggesting disappointment that Cuellar did not switch political parties after receiving clemency.
“I granted a full pardon, and now he’s staying with the Democrats,” Trump wrote. “That’s not what I expected.”
Cuellar, who represents Texas’s 28th congressional district in South Texas, was pardoned in December 2024 just weeks before Trump left office. The pardon cleared him of all federal charges tied to allegations of corruption and foreign influence. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
Federal prosecutors had alleged that Cuellar accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from a state-owned Azerbaijani energy company and a financial institution based in Mexico. The charges included bribery, money laundering, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. The case was dismissed following the presidential pardon, allowing Cuellar to remain in office and continue his political career.
In announcing his latest campaign bid, Cuellar emphasized his long-standing reputation as a centrist Democrat, pointing to his record of bipartisan cooperation and his work on border security, trade, and infrastructure. His district includes the border city of Laredo, a key hub for U.S.-Mexico commerce.
Cuellar did not directly respond to Trump’s criticism in his campaign statement, and his office has so far declined to comment on the president’s remarks.
Political analysts say the public clash highlights the complicated expectations that can follow presidential pardons. While clemency is a constitutional power, it is often viewed through a political lens-especially in high-profile cases involving elected officials.
“The unusual part isn’t the pardon itself, it’s the public backlash afterward,” said one Washington-based political strategist. “It reinforces how transactional politics can become when legal and electoral interests collide.”
The White House has not issued a statement on the dispute, and no further response has come from Trump’s team as of Monday.
Cuellar is expected to face a competitive primary and general election in 2026, as national attention remains focused on ethics, transparency, and political accountability.
